Gillian Toole

We are absolutely united in the spirit of getting this project progressed. Again, I would push the case in this instance based on the financial implications and the history of the project. There is no doubt of the intention in the programme for Government, where the intention is to communicate, collaborate and encourage more interdepartmental and intradepartmental collaboration. That is why I make…

Go raibh maith agat. The Irish people have endured an incredible amount in the last five years. Every virtue has been tested in some extremely positive ways and, sadly, some negative ways. Lives have been changed irrevocably. To advance, we must reflect, review and learn. We must rethink our duty to future generations. First, we had two intense years of SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19. It is worrying that t…

I welcome the infrastructure cross-departmental committee, the housing activation office and the child poverty unit - tús maith leath na hoibre. I think we can do better and can aim higher. We owe that to the people of this country after their endurance and forbearance over the last five years. Several times at the Business Committee, I have raised the topic of migration, something that merits urg…

As the very proud daughter, niece, granddaughter and friend of primary, secondary and tertiary educators, I very much welcome this opportunity for statements today. I will not repeat what I have heard from other contributors. The book Poor by Dr. Kathriona O'Sullivan of Maynooth University points to the importance of education as a freedom, as a gateway and as being life changing. The importance o…

As a teenager, I was angered, interested and repulsed by the atrocities of the Second World War, as experienced through history classes, documentaries, Anne Frank's diaries and, in later years, exacerbated by visits to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Dachau and Treblinka. Surely this would not and could not happen again. An end to man's inhumanity to man, morality and Maslow would ensure that we had moved on,…

I hope so. Gabhaim búiochas leis an gCeann Comhairle agus an Aire. I intend to share time with my colleague and therefore I have cut my cloth appropriately, so indulge me. My background is in healthcare, and a maxim of healthcare is "Let food be your medicine". In these times, food production and security, farm families and appropriate balanced land use are of paramount importance to Ireland. We …

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit. Again, on this subject, we have unity in the House. We have a shambolic and an extortionate process that must change as a matter of urgency. I will ask a few questions as to why. Is there a problem with testers? Are there human resource issues? Is it population increase related? Is it a symptom of a public transport deficit? If we do not analyse the reason…

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit. I should stick to the title of economic enabler, but the social care benefits to be gained from the power of further and higher education cannot be ignored. Not a day goes by in this Chamber or in our communities that we do not discuss the plight of children with additional needs and special abilities. We get briefings from various health…

To celebrate unity and long-term peace with the objectives of integration and democratic co-operation were the objectives of Europe Day and of Robert Schuman in particular with his declaration in 1950. These are very noble objectives which are essential to underpin the coalescence and co-operation of European countries over the past 75 years. A bugbear of mine is the focus on, and at times an obse…

In the case of the Farrelly commission report, the phrase "Man's inhumanity to man" springs to mind. Ordinarily, that is reserved for mistreatment during warfare, but it is very relevant in this instance. The value that we have placed on people, that was placed on Grace, the social care teams and the members of those teams who came forward in a whistleblowing capacity and the tenet of treating ot…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus leis an Aire as a bheith anseo inniu. I will be brief, in case my colleague comes in. There is agreement and unity across the House on this most serious and life-changing issue for the youngest in our population. I will confine my comments to suggestions of things that are already working in communities in Meath East and can be extended. This…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo um thráthnóna. I welcome the updated draft of the NPF. There are several opportunities here to correct the mistakes of the tiger times. I speak as somebody from east Meath, a commuter county which has been seriously impacted. I sincerely hope the concerns of residents will be listened to and opportunities that present will be enacted. The foc…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na hAirí as ucht bheith anseo um thráthnóna. In relation to CHI, I concur with everything I have heard since coming to the Chamber and in the snatches I heard throughout the afternoon when I was no in attendance. Rather than repeat what has been said by colleagues, I will focus on a few areas that I would like to see prioritised. One of them follows on from this afternoon's r…

Hear, hear.

Gabhaim buíochas to the Independent Technical Group for tabling this motion for discussion this morning. I will make it slightly smaller and more personal. If you run a home or small business, the word "threat" is also frequently used. There may be internal or external threats. Threat is one part of the business and sporting acronym, SWOT, which stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and…

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. Is fíor an seanfhocal sin. I commend and thank the youth diversion project teams, particularly in County Meath, and juvenile liaison officers Garda Barbara Kelly and Garda Aisling Connor in Meath north and Meath south, who are doing fantastic work. I also commend the probation service officers, Louth Meath Education and Training Board, public representatives and the …

Go raibh maith ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle, ag an Aire agus ag Teachta Healy chun a bheith in ann caint sa díospóireacht seo. I will make just a couple of points possibly by way of solution. Number one is to deal with the most recent planning Act around commencements. Currently when planning permission is granted there is five years to construct. If the commencement period was altered to within 18…

I will be guided by the Clerk of the Dáil as to whether due process has been followed by the Ceann Comhairle since December 2024. The advice that was issued was that she did follow due process. For that reason, I support her in her office. I was elected to the House to work on behalf of the constituents of Meath East, to find and provide solutions to the serious challenges facing Ireland and her p…

All of that makes me question the basic functioning of this Dáil. On each occasion there has been an ignoring of the requests of the Ceann Comhairle and what is set out in the dignity and respect document, which represents the very basic foundation of how we are to behave in the House, this behaviour happened when children were in the Gallery. The word that was shouted was "shame". Well, have a l…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach agus leis an Aire Stáit. I have a few points to make rather than a duplication of points that other Members have made. I welcome the updates, in particular, for the small and medium-sized enterprise sector. The simplification and reduction of administrative and regulatory burdens is something that dovetails with our objectives in the programme for …

Thus far the European Union has spent approximately €135 billion in support of the Ukrainian effort. While it is premature, I am just wondering if the Commission has considered, similar to the US, the thought of a repayment plan or indeed any type of cross-investment or resource access? It is premature but, in light of the conversations vis-à-vis tariffs and the pending uncertainty of future trade…

I have enjoyed all of the contributions, including those I sat in for and those I heard on the television. I hope that everybody has an enjoyable day on Saturday, 8 March. I will keep my contribution simple and maybe go back to basics. We should all be feminists because being a feminist means believing that women and men are equal and deserve equal rights. That phrase “We should all be feminists”…

Go n-éirí an t-ádh leis an Aire Stáit sa phost nua. I am the wife of a retired member and related to many serving members, so my gratitude and appreciation for the role of An Garda Síochána is unquestionable. Growing up in the Ratoath-Dunshaughlin area of Meath East fadó fadó, Garda Andy Morgan was our weekly visitor to the primary school. He knew us and, more important, we knew him. That sense of…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. Beidh mé ag caint idir an dá theanga. The most beneficial resource we have through the local government system is the local authority Irish-language officer. For access to the public participation networks, the provision of pop-up opportunities at meetings, etc., are the way forward. A few minutes of Irish here and there will bring peopl…

I wish the Ministers well in their new portfolios. I am grateful for the opportunity to make the following points today. Just before I came down, I saw an announcement regarding cost-rental and affordable home funding. County Meath is included in that. That is a welcome development this afternoon. On the priorities and recommendations outlined in the Housing Commission report, we have acknowledge…